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HISTORY 



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Professor E. I'ales. > - -^ 



COFYRIGHTED, 1888, by Prof. E. Falem. 



«®Na®N®0. 



CHAPTER 1. How Do We Know. 

CHAPTER 2. The Norsemen. 

CHAPTER 3. Biarne DiscoTery. 

CHAPTERS. Leif'sExploiation. 

CHAPTER 5. Thorwald's Venture. 

CHAPTER 6. Thorstein's Voyage. 

CHAPTER 7. Thorfinn Karstfne Purpose. 



PREFACE. 



The history of the Norsemen's Visits to our shores in the 
Tenth Century, has been one of much study and expense to the 
author. Meeting with many requests from those who were in- 
terested in the subject, it was thought best to pubHsh it. The 
idea is to delineate the facts contained in the interpretion of 
what has only been called ''New England Legends," This work 
will be followed by others of interest in American Antqiuity. 
Much criticism has been made that has proved encouraging* 
An editor desirous of hearing, the subject furnished printing 
and advertising gratis. It is hoped the readers will be ])leased 



CHAPTER I. 



HOW DO WE KNOW, 

Many questions arises to the why and wherefore of a tning 
that is spoken of, especially if it is a subject knowledge is 
wanted upon. These queries are of a natural impulse, and is 
in the channel of a true order of things. One that naturally 
arises is ^'Who were the Norsemen?" to answer this question, 
the chapter following will answer it. Another is *' How do we 
know they came here ?" Some years after the voyages were 
made, an Icelandic Bishop, who seemed somewhat ambitious, 
and desirous that they should be kept in some way, that the 
voyagers should have their place in history, recorded these ac- 
counts to writing. There were eighteen of these manuscripts, 
mostly Icelandic. 

A society was formed at Copenhagen in Norway, called the 
Royal Society of Northern Antiquity, whose object was to 
make researches into the historical doings of their ancestry. 
To this society, of which, ,Prof. Rafn was a member, to whom 
we are indebted for a translation of these manuscripts. Old 
Kronos or Father Time seemed to have preserved these manu- 
scripts and had them fall into the hands of this society. They 
spoke of a country in the west. An Atlas (the mythologicol 
god of grecian theology who was supposed to have borne the 
world on his shoulders) was examined, a country in the west 
was found, situated, near the meridan spoken of, supposed to be 
America, as no other land corresponded to it. Having substan- 
tiated their suppositions by proofs spoken of in them, finally 
had conclusive evidence of their ideas. 

They appeared in ^book-form nearly half a century ago at 
one of our colleges, creating much interest among the students 
a finely printed volume upon" the same subject. Columbus, it 
is said, had five sources from which he gleaned information of 



the subject. The Norsemen beiu^ one of them, in that cas 
he is not entitled to all the credit given him. 

Higginson, in his history of our country, in writing of them 
says *' If it was not for the memorials found along our shores 
and not for their legends we would never known they ever came 
here." 

These will be shown further along in this book. 



CHAPTER II. 



THE NORSEMEN. 

TIlis race that came upon English soil were called Normans 
in Irish history they are called Vikings. Having a corruption 
ef the word Norman into Norsemen, I think that the name 
Northmen might be applied to them coming from Greenland. 
William, the Conqueror, was a Norman, and heads the list ot 
the crowned heads of Britain. 

They were a race who were brave, daring, energetic and in- 
telligent, lovers of freedom and liberty. Being a branch of the 
Teutonic race, that existed in the {centre of Asia. Probably 
from some domestic feud emigrated northward and westward, 
till they came to that land now called Norway and Sweden^ 
Roman geographers of that day supposed it to be an archipela- 
go or cluster of islands. 

Here they turnedjtheir attention to an existence to be derived 
from the soil in agricultural pursuits. Proving to themselves 
that the land was not fei tile enough and the climate to cold, 
gave their attention to that great element, the ocean, as it lay 
before them. 

Navigation was looked into. They built their ships from the 
best of oak, with high forecastles and sterns, so to encounter 
the storms and billows of the nor them. ocean. 



Their bows the head of a dragon, the stern representing the 
tail, while the oars ^ were for the propelling force of the craft 
representing fangs. The poet remarks 

Their bark, the dragon of the wave. 

These vessels if espied from the coast in the distance, might 
cause the observer to think he had caught a glimpse of the sea 
serpent. 

In these vessels they made piratical voyages to different 
counteries, having a liking to discover lands and sail unknown 
seas. Among their discoveries was Iceland in the 8th century, 
Greenland in the 9th, and America in the 10. 

They endured a hardihood in which they have not been sur- 
passed by any nation, ranking second with the Roman in fame. 

Sailing along the European coast gained many victories. The 
French king who witnessed them entering his harbor from his 
palace window, shed tears knowing it was no use to prevent 
their approach. Normandy, the better part of France, was 
wrestled from him. 

After this the Gibraltor straits were turned, and sailing up 
the Mediterranean gained victories at Sicily and Greece, and 
the Italian coast. They at one time gave laws from the thrones 
of Constantinople and Jerusalem. 

The voyages tha I shall comment *on are five in number, four 
performed by brothers, and the other undertaken by a wealthy 
nobleman maned Thorfinn Karsefne. 



CHAPTER III. 



BAIRNE DISCOVERY. 

In the year 986, a Norwegian named Biarne, who was a com^ 
mercial trader engaged^in combemerce tween Norway and Ice- 
land He had returned from a voyage to Norway, became in- 



formed that his father had emigrated to Greenland. Resclving 
to spend the winter with his father as he had the previous ones 
Obtaining consent of his crew, composed of thirty-five able- 
bodied men, and without discharging cargo, set sail for Green- 
land, though neither his men or himself had ever sailed the 
Greenland sea. 

His vessel after a few days' sail made land; but it did not 
correspond to the Greenland coast. It was mountainous md 
woody, to which they gave the land the na me of Markhmd 
The Icelandic word ^' Mark " meaning wood. 

Putting to sea once more, and after another two days' sail 
again made land, but this time it was low and barren. It was 
given the name of Helluland, from tlie Icelandic word "Hellu,'' 
moaning rock or barren. 

l^oi going ashore, set sail again, and after three days' sail 
made the Greenland coast. 

Arriving ashore they made known the news of their discov- 
ery, which formed the chief topic of conversation for sometime 
in Greenland. He was censured much for not exploring mo-i 
of the new land. 



CHAPTER IV. 



LEIP'S EXPLORATION. 

In the year 1002, Bairne paid a visit to the Earl of Norman- 
dy, and censured by him for not exploring more of the new 
land. 

Leif, who was brother of Biarne, and a second son of Eric 
the Bed of Greenland, borrowed his brother's ship, for a voyage 
to the new land. He felt that tlie new country had been tJ lit- 
tle explored, became determined to examine it for himself. 



They touched a^ Helluland and Markland, but made no stopsS 
They continued their course southward, till they came to a 
promintory, said to be Nantucket, around which they sailed. 

Their course was pursued westward to where a river emptied 
into the sea, from a lake, (Mt. Hope Bay, a party going to Fall 
Kiverby rail and looking south will see that Mt. Hope Bay has 
the appearance of being a lake). 

Landing on what was known as the Godman's farm, opposite 
to Fall Kiver. Going ashore, pitched their tents on the green 
grass, and brought their cots from the ship. 

A council was held by them, and resolving to stay some 
length of time, a house was erected, and called in honor of their 
leader Leif 's Budir or Booth. 

The company was divided into two parties, one to keep watch 
at the house, while the other was away to explore the sur- 
rounding country ; going no farther than being able to return 
the same night. 

One night as the party returned, the German, named Tyrker, 
was missing. Tyi^er was a favorite of Leif, who had grown up 
with him from childhood ; felt anxious about him. 

Getting twelve volunteers from the company, started out in 
in search for him. He was found by them munching grapes. 
Holding up a bunch m his hand, exclaimed : " Weintrauben ! 
Weintrauben !" doing nothing but munching grapes, talking 
German and then laughing. 

Here is a case of intoxication from the fruit of the vine. His 
friends were enabled to get him to the camp, without his meet- 
ing further trouble. 

The Norsemen were ignorant of the discovery of the new 
fruit, as it was unknown to them. Coming more to himself he 
mado known to them his exploits. 

Not far from the supposed settlement, a swamp is still to be 
seen with many vines loaded with grapes in the fall seasou. 

From this incident Leif named the surrounding country 
"Vineland.'^ 

They busied themselves in tilling the ship with timber, 
andtho long-boat with grapns, to return with to Greenlan d. 



Reviewing these facts, we can see that the credit lies with the party of eight 
men sent southward in the ship's long boat on a tour of exploration. We notice 
that the tower has eight pillars, corresponding to the number of men in the par- 
ty. It seemed to have been erected as a place of refuge, from the attacks of wild 
animals,and in case of a besiegment from the natives, from the so-called windows 
were port-holes through which their weapons could be pointed at the enemy. 

After their return in the fall, having spent the summer, 
crossed the 'iake" to where Fall River now stands. Landing: 
and espying a hi"gh promontory his men ran to the top of it 
There were discovered three canoes with the same number 
of natives in each. A skirmish ensued between them,in which 
eight of the nine natives were killed, the other making good 
his escape. 

Soon he appeared with a large number of natives in caiioes 
The Norsemen were obliged to board their vessel. Battle- 
screens were raised on the ship's sides to protect themselves. 
in spite of their efforts an arrow wounded Thorwald under 
the arm. Finding that his wound would prove fatal, advised 
his men to return home. 

"But first," said their leader, "carry me to the promontory 
I thought was so beautiful, and there bury me. Place across 
at my head, another at my feet, and ever-after call the place 
*Kroskanes'." 

His men spent the winter at Leif 's Booth, returning the 
following spring to Greenland. 

SKELETON 

In i83i during an excavation being made on Pocasset street, Fall River, for 
the erection of a cotton mill, the workmen came across what seemed to be a 
skeleton in armor. The periodicals of that time criticised the discovery much, 
and wondered what it was ? The poet even asks the object to speak, and tell who 
he was. It was kept in the Fall River Anthenreum till 1843 when it was de- 
stroyed by fire. It must have been the skeleton of Thorvald, who had received 
jhe poisoned arrow under the arm. Barzelius, ihe Swedish Chemist, analy-si'd a 
part of the armor and found it corresponded to that worn in the middle century. 



CHAPTER VI. 

THCtRSTElN'S VOYAGE 

Thorstein Erickson, a son of Eric the Red, and the last of 
the four brothers, in the year 1005, with an able-dodied crew 
of twenty-five men, with his wife Druida, set sail in his bro- 
ther's vessel. His intention was to proceed to Vineland and 
bring back the body of his brother Thorwald. 

They were tossed on the waves all summer, finally reaching 
Greenland in the fall. 

This voyage proved unsuccessful. 



CHAPTER VH. 

THORFINN KARSEFNE PURPOSE. 

In 1827, the last voyage of which I shall speak, was under- 
taken by Thorfinn Karsefne. Being a wealthy nobleman born 
of illustrious lineage — Irish, Scotch and Norwegian ancestry. 

At the festival of Yule or Christmas, Thorfinn was urged 
by his wife and encouraged by friends to make a voyage to the 
new land. He equipped a fleet of three vessels,of which he took 
command. A company of 1 5 1 persons,including seven women 
and the necessary domestic animals set sail. 

Helluland and Markland was touched by them, but con- 
tinued on their course southward. Passing the nortlicrn 
portion of Cape Cod, to which they gave the name of Kial- 
nes, (signifying Keel Cape). Stopping at the southern part 
of the cape, it was given the name of Furdustrand, from the 
nuemrous sandhills. Indian's name was Nauset. 

Two Scottish slaves, named Take and Tekia, given I'hor- 
finn by the Norse king, were put on shore and told to go in a 
south-west direction and explore the country. After three 
days they returned with bunches of grapes and ears of wild 
wheat, giving an excellent report of the country. 



NOTE.— Owing to certain circumstances the Author was compelled to change 
the publishers ol this work at a time when It was most inconvenient and the 
pamphlet but half finished. But the change was a most fortunate one, as the 
typographical appearance ot the latter portion will bear witness. 



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